Shop safely online On the site

Be sure the site is secure before you buy

Shopping basket and delivery

To buy an item click the button marked 'Add to Shopping Basket'.

Many websites allow you to 'View Basket' so you can check what you've added, the total cost, and how many of each item you've ordered.

To actually buy something, you'll need to click the 'Proceed to checkout' button (or equivalent) and confirm your delivery details.

Be aware that many online retailers will only deliver goods to the billing address of your credit card.

Check out

Before you pay check the site uses a secure server.

The web address of a secure webpage starts with https instead of http, and you'll see a padlock symbol in the bottom of your browser. Double-click the padlock icon to reveal a digital certificate that confirms that the website is what it says it is.

Enter payment details

Enter your card details including the start and expiry date. Many websites now also ask for the security code to ensure the person ordering has the card in front of them. This is on the signature strip on the back of your credit card; just enter the last 3 digits.

Keep a record

Ensure you keep a record of the transaction and the order number. You should receive a receipt via email; if you have spam-filtering software, this email may end up in your junk folder.

Print it for safekeeping and keep it until your goods are delivered and credit card charged.